Priest Profiles

Phanikanth Sharma Yanamandra

Phanikanth Sharma

Phanikanth joined Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin in June 2014 for Kumbhabhishekam. Panditji is a Rigveda Ghanapati, the highest order of Vedic learning one can master. He started his formal Rigveda education with Sri Samanchi Rajeswara Sastri and Sri Virupaksham Shyavashwa Maharshi, and completed Ghanantam with Ratnakara Salakshana Ghanapati. Phanikantji has taken Sri Vidya Upasana from Vishnubhatla Lakshmi Nrusimha Ghanapati, and is a Sri Vidya, Mahavidya Pratyangira, and Chandi Upasaka. This means he has a high level of expertise in the worship of the Divine Mother. Panditji is an expert in performing various karma vidhis including Panchadasa karmas, Pratishtanas, Maha Rudram, Ati Rudram, Shata Chandi, Sowra Yagam, Veda Parayana, and Chaturveda Havans. In particular, he has a vast experience and expertise in Sundarakanda Parayana, Bhagavadgita Parayana, Rigveda Parayana, Chandi Parayana and Havans. Phanikantji speaks Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada, and English. His contact number is (512) 982-8936 or Email

Raghunath Bhattar

Raghunath Bhattar

Raghunathji comes from Bangalore, Karnataka, where he received Pancharatra Agama training under his grandfather Pandit S.R. Rangaswamy Bhattar, Agama Pandit S.R. Sheshadri Bhattar, and Pandit S.R. Vasudeva Bhattar. Raghunathji has over 20 years of experience in performing all Pujas and Havans. Raghunathji was the first priest hired at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in 2008. Before coming to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Raghunathji served five years in Sri Meenakshi Temple at Houston, TX, two years at Omkara Maha Ganapati Temple at Temple, TX, and many other temples in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Houston. He is also a hereditary priest at Sri Prasanna Venkataramana Swami Temple and Sri Veeranjaneya Swami Temple in Bangalore, India. Raghunathji speaks Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and English. His contact number is (512) 669-3257, or Email

Badrinath Bhattar

Badrinath Bhattar

Badrinath comes from Bangalore, Karnataka, where he received Pancharatra Agama training from his father and Guru Pancharatra Agama Praveena Seshadri Bhattar. Badrinathji’s expertise is in the Smartham tradition, and is experienced in performing all Pujas and Havans. Priest Badri served at Sri Omkara Maha Ganapati Temple, Temple, TX for about two years before he joined with Baba Temple in 2010. Prior to his coming to the US, Badrinathji served many years at Anjaneya Swamy and Sri Venkateswara Temples in Bangalore, India. Panditji speaks Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and English. His contact number is (512) 850-0477 or Email

Srikanth Sharma Kakara

Srikanth Kakara

Srikanthji is a Sama Veda Pandit, and is one of the seven Samaveda Ranaayaniya Tamraparni Ganam experts in India. Panditji is one of the new priests joined Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin in June 2014. He got his Veda education under the noble guidance of Sri Samavedula Ramagopala Sastri. Panditji has also Masters Degree in Sanskrit. Panditji is an expert in performing various karma vidhis including Panchadasa karmas, Pratishtanas, Maha Rudram, Ati Rudram, Sowra Yagam, Veda Parayana, and Chaturveda Havans. He has lot of experience in Sundarakanda Parayana, Bhagavadgita Parayana, Samaveda Parayana, Chandi Parayana and Havans. He performs the ceremony Hiranya Shraddham for ancestors. Srikanthji speaks Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, and English. His contact number is (512) 982-8943, or Email

Raja Shekar Malladi

Rajashekar Sharma

Raja Shekar Sharma Malladi joined the Temple staff in June, 2014. He trained in Krishna Yajur Veda and Smartam at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is an expert in all the shodasha karma smartams, the 16 karma ceremonies, such as marriage, upanayanam, hair cutting, and can also perform aparam, after death funeral ceremony. He knows Chandi and all types of havans, abhishekams, etc, and is a specialist in Sahara and mahalinga archana. Raja Shekar speaks English, Telugu, and Sanskrit. Contact him at (512) 775-4420, or Email

Srinathacharyulu Parasharam

Srinatha Parashram

Sriman Srinathacharyulu Parasharam comes from a very traditional Sri Vaishnava family from Warangal. He attained the highest degree of Salakshna Ganapati as a Sukla Yajurveda pandit in Shukla Yajurshakha from a Veda pathshala run by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s organizations in India. Srinathacharyulu was fully trained and has been performing homas, vaidika kratus, paraayanaas and pujas for various occasions. He has performed Brahmotsavaas, Pratisthas, and Samprokshnaas at several temples in India, He is expert in many homas, pujas, abhishekams, and Veda parayanas. He is also qualified in Astrology and helps in setting Shubha Muhurats for various occasions. He speaks Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Sanskrit fluently. His contact number is (646)464-1168, or Email

Jagadish Kumar Kalluri

Jagadish Kalluri

Jagadish Kumar Kalluri previously served at Sree Ganga Parvathi Sametha in Vijayawada as well as working with Samavedula Chandra Sekhara Sharma. He has 24 years experience as a priest. Jagadish received Krishna Yajurveda Vaidika Smartha Agama exam certification in Hyderabad from Dharmika Bhawanam. Jagadish Kalluri has completed 10 million kumkum archanas to the Goddess Durga also known as Kanakdurgamma koti kumkuma Archana at the Sree Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Temple over the course of one year in Indrakeeladri Vijayawada. He is expert in the panchadasa karma smartams (life passages like marriage, first hair cutting, etc.), and also Mahalinga and Sahasralinga archanas, as well as Vedic Surya Namaskars. He is a master of Sri Chakra Navavarna Archana. He can perform Hiranya Shraddham for devotees (ancestor worship). He speaks Telugu, English, and Sanskrit. His contact number is (512) 216-8565, or Email

Madhava Charyulu Cherukupally

Madhava Charyulu

Madhava Charyulu Cherukupally is a Krishna Yajur Veda pandit who has attained the advanced status of Kramantha. He trained as a pandit at both Maharishi Veda Vishwa Vidyalayan and Jeera Educational Trust. He is an expert in the Agama Sastras, which concern themselves with running a Temple. He is an expert in all the various forms of smartam (religious ceremonies), such as puja, havan,and abhishekam. He is expert in calculating muhurth, proper time for ceremonies. He speaks good English, Telugu, Hindu, Tamil, and Sanskrit. His contact number is (703) 5075884,or Email